Eat Green on Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it is a day for many of us to give thanks for our many blessings. It is also a perfect day to teach your family members and relatives about your greener lifestyle. After you show them all of the green things you have incorporated in your home, you can share with them a green Thanksgiving meal, no food coloring required! The Washington Post has some tips on how to green your Thanksgiving Day feast. Among them are:

• Choose an organic turkey, farm-raised turkey, which will avoid the antibiotics and hormones of factory raised turkeys.
• Using an energy efficient oven, bake two smaller turkeys at once, rather than one mammoth turkey.
• If your palate is up for it, forgo the turkey and opt for a soy or tofu alternative.
• Of course, to avoid waste, use non-disposable dishes and utensils. Be sure to load up the dishes in your energy-efficient dishwasher.
• Decorate with natural materials, such as pine cones, leaves, and acorns.
• Most importantly, take the time to feel grateful for the earth's resources and continue to look for more ways to be eco-friendly!
  

Greening Up Baby

The Washington Post has tips on how to be an eco-conscious parent and reduce the carbon footprint of your baby!

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Reusable Bags Get Trendy

Kudos to those who are shunning plastic bags on their shopping exploits and are instead using reusable bags and totes! Reusable bags have become fashionable--they are no longer just plain canvas totes with the ubiquitous logo of some conference long attended long ago. From a $10 tote to a $960 Hermes tote, there are a number of options for you to choose from. Join the green movement and stop using plastic bags if you can help it. With stylish, functional options (most of which are under $960!), you'll never want to be without your reusable bag.

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Organic Lawn Care

The Washington Post has a very interesting article on ways that you can care for your lawn organically. The reliance upon pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, and other harmful chemicals have greatly damaged the environment. Check out this article, so that you can learn to care for your lawn or garden the greener way.

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Green Living for Pets!

Don't just limit green living to the humans in your family--include your pet, too! The Washington Post has some great tips on how you can get Whiskers or Fido to leave a greener "paw print." This is great advice, as it seems that green-conscious people are among the greatest pet lovers, so incorporate some of these tips pronto if you have a pet at home!

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Hotels check in to being green

More hotels are offering green accommodations and using greener construction. Some have gotten pretty creative and resourceful in their choice of materials. It is a great day when even in our leisure times, people can still be socially conscious and responsible about the environment.

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Green Sports Gear

From natural cleaning products to hemp clothing, the Green Revolution has transformed the contents of our kitchen cabinets and closets. Now, sporting and fitness goods manufacturers are taking the trend outdoors, marketing upscale products that boast a new sensitivity to the environments in which they are used.

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GE Unveils New 'Green' Card

General Electric has a new platinum credit card that allows consumers to help combat global warming. This is definitely an interesting premise, though certainly one that should be examined carefully and cautiously. While is is great that a percentage (albeit a very small one) of credit card purchases can be applied to projects that are fighting global warming, it is not necessarily a good idea that consumers will be encouraged to increase their spending or debt in order to help the environment. It is a good concept. However, consumers should be careful with their spending and definitely consider other hands-on approaches to aiding the environment, by making lifestyle changes, volunteering, or even donating money to environmental organizations.

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Beyond Wind and Solar, a New Generation of Clean Energy

As policymakers promote alternative energy sources to reduce the United States' emissions of greenhouse gases and its dependence on foreign oil, entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly inventive about finding novel ways to power the economy.

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The Green Giants of Wall Street

Big, familiar firms in our corporate landscape are taking surprising steps to help the environment, among other nifty projects.

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A House Made of Straw

A few people in the Washington area have been building things -- walls, homes and even, good heavens, a school --out of straw. Some designers say straw is ideal for "green" building because it recycles farm waste and saves energy by keeping interiors cool.

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Back-to-School with a Recycled Backpack!

Several manufacturers are now making backpacks, satchels, and other bags from recycled materials. There are retread bags, made from old tires and inner tubes. Or, you can try a bag made from recycled soda bottles. Of course, you can always get a recycled luggage tag. For more info check out the ABC News story by clicking the below link.

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Rethinking Flying

Airplanes operate on petroleum fuel, which means they release large amounts of carbon dioxide when they fly. Commercial air travel is currently responsible for a relatively tiny part of the global carbon footprint —just 3.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

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Global Survey Shows 'Green' Construction Costs Dramatically Lower Than Believed

This is technically good news..."green" construction actually costs much less than real estate and construction analysts may have initially judged. Apparently costs of green construction were overestimated by 300 percent! Hopefully, now that this information has been clarified more governments and builders will undertake more green construction projects.

Local Government goes Greener

Erie County, New York (population of around 925,000) has passed a law requiring county officials to purchase Energy Star appliances when possible. This is a positive first step by a local government. More local governments need to commit to using more energy efficient appliances and technology. As voters, let's encourage our governments to follow in Erie County's footsteps.

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Green Products are Big for Back to School

Stores are hoping that parents and students will add one more item to this year's back-to-school shopping list: saving the planet.

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The Less It Smells, the More It Costs

Painting may be all about looks, but the price is partly driven by another sense -- smell.

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Evangelicals and Environmentalists Find Common Ground

LONGWOOD, Fla. -- At 8 on a Saturday morning, just as the heat was permeating this sprawling Orlando suburb, Denise Kirsop donned a white plastic moon suit and began sorting through the trash produced by Northland Church.

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Going Green Without Starting From Scratch

Consumer interest in green construction has continued to grow, but few people can afford to build an environmentally friendly house from the ground up. They don't have to, says architect Kelly Lerner, co-author of 'Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House.' To find out more about this design...

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Green Remodeling for your Bathroom

Planning on remodeling your bathroom? Well, give it a green makeover. LoHud.com has some excellent tips on how to make your bathroom at home more green, and, hence, more environmentally friendly. According to Robyn Griggs Lawrence, bathrooms are a great place to start green remodeling because they are small and allow you to do creative things with water. Here are some tips you can use in your new green bathroom:

• Install wheatboard cabinets. Wheat is rapidly renewable. If you insist on a wood cabinet, look for one that has the Forest Stewardship Council Logo certification, which will indicate that it comes from a sustainable forest.
• Use natural flooring products, such as bamboo, cork, or natural linoleum. You may also try recycled glass and porcelain tiles.
• Make sure you use non-toxic paint, with low volatile organic compounds.
• To reduce water usage, try low-flow showerheads, faucets, toilets or aerators.
• You may want to get a countertop made of recycled materials. This is also recommended for tiles.
• Lastly, switch to using compact fluorescent or LED bulbs, rather than incandescent light bulbs.

Using these tips from LoHud.com, will let you live green in your bathroom and allow you to help the environment daily.

Find a Green Realtor for your Green Home

An article on Examiner.com discusses how some real estate agents are undergoing additional real-estate training on how to market green homes. Agents are recognizing that green-conscious home buyers are seeking out homes that have green-friendly touches. Homeowners who are selling their homes, who may be green-conscious, may want to work with a realtor who is knowledgeable about green issues, if they want the green touches made to their home to be highlighted and not just ignored. Some of the things that real estate agents with green knowledge can educate home buyers on are energy efficient appliances, non-toxic paint, green roofing and flooring, green heating and cooling, land lead and radon issues to name a few. If you are seeking a home and trying to live green, it is important to look for green-friendly touches in your future home. Find a real estate agent who understands why living green is important, and let them guide you to the right home.

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Starbucks is Trying to Serve Greener Coffee

Starbucks is trying to go greener, though it's not easy. According to an article on Forbes.com, Starbucks does not calculate its carbon footprint every year and has actually only did it once in 2003. But, Starbucks executives are concerned about reducing their carbon emissions and have tried to conduct progress checks. In 2003, Starbucks released 295,000 tons of carbon, although it left out the 81,000 of carbon used in transporting coffee materials and disposing of solid waste from its figure because it are only concerned with the emissions it can control in its stores and plants. As big as it sounds, that 295,000 is a small carbon foortprint according to the Carbon Footprint Project, which follows 1,000 companies.
Starbucks has promoted going green among its customers in campaigns, such as "Green Umbrellas for a Green Cause" and the Planet Green Game. It plans to begin monitoring some of its equipment later this year, by installing meters on coffee machines, refrigerators, filtration systems, and other equipment. These are steps in the right direction.
As consumers, let's support companies who are making an effort to go green and that make it easier for us to live green.

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Say No to Plastic Bottles!

Sure, you've always thought that plastic bottles were a good choice. They can be recycled after all. But, sadly a whopping 8 out of 10 bottles are never recycled. And, you don't even want to take in all of the fossil fuels which are burned transporting bottles. This is a major reason why environmentalists are campaigning against the use of single-use plastic water bottles. Each year more than 1.5 million barrels of oil are used to create water bottles in the United States. That's a lot...enough energy to fuel 100,000 cars!The mayor of San Francisco banned disposable water bottles in municipal offices last month. Nalgene, a company that makes reusable polycarbonate bottles, started a campaign called "Refill Not Landfill," trying to convince people to go without water bottles. You don't have to give up bottles completely, however. A green friendly solution to the plastic bottle is to purchase a reusable bottle and refill with tap water (get a filter!).

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Green Jobs are Growing

An article on Newsweek.com says that environmental job market is as strong as ever. According to recent Department of Labor numbers, among the fastest growing professions are environmental engineers, hydrologists, environmental-health scientists, and urban and regional planners. As employers are becoming more aware of green issues, they are hiring people who can implement greener practices for them. This news is great for recent graduates who may have grown up being passionate about the environment.
According to the article, some green jobs are growing at double digit rates, especially in consulting. Fortunately, for those interested in snagging a green job, having a college major in an environmental science is not necessary to get a green job. Passion is what counts, but people from all kinds of backgrounds and disciplines are needed to help save the earth. Green living does work and can pay your bills!

A Green Beef with Beef!

This is bound to upset a lot of meat eaters! Apparently, one kilogram of beef (2.2 pounds) creates more greenhouse gas emissions and pollution than three hours of driving, while leaving ALL of the lights on at home. The New Scientist magazine reports that a Japanese study concluded that producing a kilogram of beef produces the equivalent of 36.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas.
Most of the greenhouse gas emissions are coming from the cattle's digestive systems in the form of methane. Acid and fertilizing substances are found in their waste. Experts recommend that cattle methane emissions can be reduced with better waste management and shortening calving intervals. But, of course, the top solution by many green activists and vegetarians is to simply stop eating meat. It's easier said than done for many, but trying to reduce one's meat intake is worth it for the environment.

"Green" Gardening

It's summertime, folks! It's the perfect time for enjoying the outdoors and perhaps doing plenty of gardening. But, even though your garden may technically be green in color, it may not be "green" in the sense of being a low-impact garden. Here are some tips from Greenpeace to making your garden really "green":

1. Get solar-powered lawn equipment. Or, consider the old school, "Flintstones"-styled mower.
2. Try to use rain water to water your garden. Wait for it to rain or store rain water. Water your garden early in the morning or at night when there will be less evaporation from the hot sun.
   
3. Plant flower and plant species that are native to your area. They will require less water and care than non-native species.
4. Use organic soil, mulch, and compost. Your garden will be healthier.
5. Try natural pest control solutions. For example, many species of insects are repelled by garlic and onion.

Make sure to do your research, as always. And, lastly, make sure that you have fun in your green garden!

Ease Off the Gas!

So, of course we already know that gas ain't cheap these days. The hey day of gas being $25 a gallon is long over. But, we shouldn't only be concerned about gas consumption because of the damage it does to our wallets. We need to be concerned about our consumption of a nonrenewable fuel and the damage done to earth. We're talking about all of the damage from the drilling, exhaust from cars, the emissions...it has been reeking havoc on our planet and contributing to global warming. When it comes to gas consumption and living more green, we can drive less, get a smaller, more fuel-efficient car or get a hybrid car, and take public transportation. Check out this MSNBC article that discusses how we can break our "gas addictions."

Green Living Books

The Chicago Tribune has a list of books and websites recommended for the environmentally conscious. Check 'em out. There are selections for the tykes, as well as adults. Choosing to live green is a conscious decision that requires a lot of research. Too many people are just not aware of the harm they do to the environment. Take the time to educate yourself more on how you can help the earth and make green living work ('cuz it does).Publish Post

Green Living is Hot!

That's right--green living is hot stuff, and it it is here to stay...it needs to be. More and more Americans and people around the world are embracing green lifestyles. It's not just for the tree-huggers and hippies anymore. The earth is in crisis, and well play a part in helping to prevent an ecological catastrophe. Check out this MSNBC article which gives an interesting history on how we first started paying attention to environmental issues to getting where we are now with soccer moms trading in their gas guzzling SUVs for hybrids. The article states that in 2006 the number of Americans who worried about the environment "a great deal" or "a fair amount" increased to 77 percent from 62 percent in 2004. That's quite an increase for such a short period of time. So, you see, you are not alone...let's live green together!

Green Living Works!

Welcome to Green Living Works! This site will be devoted to sharing information on green living and the environment. We all have a HUGE responsibility in caring for God's Green Earth, and it is essential, in the face of global warming, that we commit to making changes in our everyday lives that can improve life for the future generations.
Green Living Works! will share tips on living a green, environmentally friendly lifestyle. There are plenty of things that each of us can do to minimize our carbon footprint and other negative effects on the environment. Please join us in this Green movement to help save and sustain the Earth.
Godspeed Comrades...let's live Green!